Communiqué on the Universidad Centroamericana (UCA) of Nicaragua

June

The International Federation of Catholic Universities and its 227 affiliated Catholic higher education institutions unanimously condemn the disproportionate use of force by the Nicaraguan government during the recent events in May. The threats of violence against the authorities, staff and students of the Universidad Centroamericana and especially those aimed at intimidating Father José Alberto Idiaquez, SJ, Rector of the UCA, who is fighting peacefully for the end of the crisis, are unacceptable and unworthy of a democratic government.

The mission of Catholic higher education institutions is to train and educate students and their staff not only in academic excellence but also in civic engagement in order to build "a more humane and just world." Human Rights "(Article 2 of the Statutes of the International Federation of Catholic Universities).

The International Federation of Catholic Universities wishes to express its full support and solidarity to the university community of the Universidad Centroamericana and expresses the hope that a peaceful solution can be found as soon as possible in order to put an end to the cycle of violence and human rights violations in Nicaragua.

Dr. Pedro Rubens Ferreira de Oliveira, S.J.,
President of the International Federation of Catholic Universities
Rector of the Universidade Católica de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil